Hundreds of people are being invited to experience the realities of life on the streets by taking part in a fundraising sleep-out for a homeless charity.

Exeter's YMCA is hoping 500 people will volunteer to sleep rough "so others don't have to" – by taking part in its Sleep Easy event within the Guildhall shopping city on March 16. It is the third year the event will take place to raise awareness of youth homelessness in and around the city.

The latest annual street audit conducted by the city council in December estimated that 30 people were sleeping rough on the streets.

Sophie Hodge, community relations manager of the charity, said: "This is the third time we have run SleepEasy, but nothing on this scale has been done before in Exeter.

"As it is 20 years since the YMCA project first opened its doors to local homeless young people, we have decided to go large."

Entertainment will be led by singer Adam Isaac and hot food and drinks will be available.